Life preserver



- March 15, 1932. J. PETERNELLA LIFE PRESERVER Filed June 12. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNEY;v

March 15, 1932.

J. PETERNELLA LIFE PRESERVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY;

Patented Mar. 15, 1932 :rAeo rETnRnELn-A, OF NEW Yonx, N; Y.

LIFE PRESERVER Application filed June 12,

This invention relates to life preservers and has for one of its objects the provision of a device of the character referred to adapted for use for both beginners and expert swimmers.

Another object of the invention is to produce a life preserver having an inflatable belt, a similar bag and an inflating mechanism secured to said belt and in communication with the bag.

A further object of the device is to provide a device of this nature in which the inflatable bag is adapted to be secured to the inner side of a bathinggarment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having an inflating device which comprises a cham-" her having a bag or the like containing a gas producing chemical therein and a syringe or pump for forcing water into said chamber for the production of such gas for inflating the preserver. i

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is normally worn around the waist of the wearer and is adapted when inflated to rise to the upper portion of the body.

Another object is to produce a device of the character described in which the maximum simplicity of construction and operation is secured. 7

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substan= tially in the novel arrangement and co-relation of parts herein fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where in similar reference characters are used to describe corresponding parts throughout the several views, and then finally pointed out and specifically defined and indicated in the appended claims.

The disclosure made the basisof eXemplifying the present inventive concept suggests a practical embodiment thereof, but the invention is not to be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure, and the latter, therefore, is to be understood from an illustrative, rather than a restrictive standpoint.

The inventive idea involved is capable of 1931. Serial No. 543,849.

receiving a variety of mechanical expresslons, one of which, for the purpose of illustratlon, is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of my improved llfe preserver as normally worn before infiation.

D Figure 2 is a similar view showing the llfe preserver belt in upper or inflated position.

Figure 3 is a front view of the preserver.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one end of the preserver belt.

Figure 5 is a similar end thereof.

Figure 6 is the belt.

Figure 7 is an end View at a larger scale.

Figure 8 is a sectional view thereof taken online 88 Fig. 7

Figure 9 is an end view partly in section of the container looking from the right of Figure 8. h

FigureIO is a fragmental sectional view taken on line 10-10 Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a front view partly in section of the connector leading from the gas chamber to the belt and bag, and

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the inflating mechanism in its outer casing.

Referring now to the drawings in detail indicates a bathing suit having secured to the upper inner side thereof by means of tabs 21, anvin flatable bag 22. A rubber or other hose 23 leads from the said bag to one arm of a Y shaped connector 24 the other arm thereof being attached by a likehose to an inflatable belt 25 and the stem of the said Y being connected by means of an internally threaded nipple 26 to an outwardly threaded stem 27 secured to an inner tube or valve pipe 28 extending from the inflating mechanism 29.

The said mechanisn'i comprises a receptacle or container 30 which may normally contain air under pressure. The said container is provided at the top thereof with a screw threaded opening which is normally closed by a screw 31 to which is secured a hook 32 view of the opposite a cross sectional view through of the gas container belt through the ports 38 and from which is suspended a mesh bag 33 containing a chemical which when brought into contact with water will produce gas. The

bottom of the container is provided with a substantially U shaped trough-like portion 35 in which is secured a pipe 36 provided with port holes 37 and 38 opening into the gas container 30. The valve pipe 28 is suitably maintained within the outer pipe 36 and is provided with port holes etO, L1 and 42.

To the right of the container 30 and secured thereto is a pump or syringe having a screwhole which is normally closed by a screw 46, the said hole providing means when the screw d6 is removed for permitting water to be sucked into the syringe chamber a? which is in communication with a port hole 48 in the pipe 36. The valve pipe 28 is divided into two sections 49 and 50 by means of a separator plug 51 fitting snugly in the interior of the said pipe 28, to the outer end of which near the threaded portion 27 there is secured a valve handle 52. An outer casing 53 encloses the inflating device and is provided with ears or lugs 54; and 55.

The belt 25 is made of any suitable material and comprises flat side walls 56 and accordion or V shaped top and bottom sections or walls 57 suitab y secured to the said side walls. One end of the belt 25 has secured thereto a ring 58 from which is suspended a chain 59 terminating in aring 60, and the opposite end of the belt is provided with a ring 61. To normally secure the belt around the waist the ring 60 is first hooked over the lug and then the ring 58 is passed over the said lug and finally the ring 61 is passed over the lug 54.

To inflate the life preserver the ring 58 is slipped oi? the ear or lug 55 so that the ring alone remains on the said lug. The valve handle 52 is then rotated one half of arevolution until the port openings 40, 41 and 4:2 in the pipe 28 register with the openings 38, 37, and 48. In this position, the air under pressure in the container will flow into the belt and bag to partially inflate same. To further inflate the belt and bag the spring pressed piston 65 is depressed and force the water in the receptacle l? through the ports 48, 4L2, ll and 37 into the receptacle 30 and cause the chemical element in the bag 33 to produce gas to further inflate the belt 25 and bag 22, the gas passing into the said bag and 40 pipe section -19 and the r connection 24. Due to the inflation and the disconnecting of the ring 58 and lug 55 the belt will rise on the body of the wearer and assume the position shown in Figure 2.

By removing the screw 31 the bag 38 can be withdrawn and a new bag suspended from the hook 32 and the air in the chamber 30 can again be put under pressure if desired.

From the foregoing it will be seen that 1 have provided a life preserver that may be inflated at will by bringing water into contact with a gas producing chemical element contained within the said life preserver.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a life preserver, an inflatable bag, an inflatable belt, a chemical element gas producing container having port holes therein, a liquid containing receptacle having a port hole, a pipe in operative relation to the con tainer and receptacle and having port holes adapted to be brought into and out of alinement with the port holes in said container and receptacle, a dividing plug in the said pipe, and means connecting the gas producing container to the bag and belt.

2. In a life preserver, an inflatable bag, an inflatable belt, a chemical element gas producing container having port holes therein, a liquid containing receptacle having a port hole, a pipe in operative relation to the container and receptacle and having port holes adapted to be brought into and out of alinement with the port holes in said container and receptacle, a dividing plug in the said pipe, an outer shell for enclosing the receptacle and container, ears on the said shell, a plurality of rings on the belt as and for the, purpose specified, means connecting the gas producing container to the bag and belt, and a pump for forcing liquid from the receptacle into the container.

3. In a life preserver, an inflatable bag, an inflatable belt, a container having a threaded opening therein, a screw in the opening, a chemical element containing bag suspended from the screw, a pipe having three port holes two of which are in communication with the container, a liquid containing syringe secured to the container, in communication with the third port hole on the pipe, an inner tube rotatably mounted in the aforesaid pipe and having port holes in line with the port holes in said pipe, a dividing plug in the tube as and for the purpose specified, a connector connecting the tube with the inflatable bag and belt, and a handle for revolving the tube to bring the port holes therein in and out of registry with the port holes in the pipe.

4. In a life preserver, an inflatable bag, an inflatable belt, a container having a threaded opening therein, a screw in the opening, a chemical element containing bag suspended from the screw, a pipe having three port holes two of which are in communication with the container, a liquid containing syringe secured to the container, in communication with the third port hole on the pipe, an inner tube rotatably mounted in the aforesaid pipe and having port holes in line with the port holes in said pipe, a dividing plu in the tube as and for the purpose specified, a

signature.

J AGO PETERNELLA. 

